Apologies, I know folks must cringe when they read the subject thread but I just want to make certain before heading back to the dealer.

I only received one key & immobilizer remote with my recently purchased '96 993. I dropped by the local Porsche dealer looking into picking up a second set. The cost was sobering to begin with but then I was told that because the immobilzer control unit already had the three addition remotes programmed I would need to purchase a new immoblizer control unit at a cost of $1,300.

Reading through the threads, I'd be correct in arguing that they should be able to program the two keys/remotes I would currently have in had regardless?

I had to laugh when the tech tried to explained why I needed a new immobilzer by using a home network router as an example. As it was put to me, my current immobilizer can't read my both my current key/remote as well as a newly purchased set because it can't identify a MAC address. I walked out scratching my head on that one.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Sounds like another case of a dealer not being very knowledgable about our older cars. It is true that the control unit can only handle a maximum of 4 remotes but when you reprogram to add a new one, you start from scratch so you will program your new one and the original at the same time and only have a total of 2.

Also, my advice would be to find a good independent shop that knows older cars to handle any maintenance issues you can't do yourself and let dealers worry about newer cars.

 

Reprogramming the remotes is not that difficult a task. If I recall the procedure is described in your owner's manual. As Chuck says above, each time you reprogram the remotes you "start from scratch."

I agree that you should try to stay away from the Dealer you talked to and find someone you can work with.

Phil

 

I've also heard that before, not sure if true though.

GL!.

 

Oh yeah I almost forgot. Try Sunset Imports in Beaverton, Oregon for dealer parts. They are a Porsche Dealer and I believe they sell parts to out-of state customers for cost plus 10%. Their #1-800-346-0182. I always deal with Phil in the Porsche parts dept. They will be able to help with the remote fob, etc.
Phil

 

Should have mentioned that I recently bought a new smaller spare remote (not including key) from Sunset for $110.

We white car owners sure are a helpful lot.

 

That's a load of crap. The immobilizer supports up to 4 keys at any one time, not over its lifetime.

1) Buy a new key blank / remote from Sunset / Pelican / etc.
2) Reprogram your immobilizer (using the procedure in your manual) and press the button on both your current remote and your new remote so that the immobilizer "learns" both keys.
3) Spend the $1500 on something else
4) Find a new dealer

- Dave

 

I just got a new key and remote key fob from my local porsche dealer in Norwell, Ma. It was $300. for both and 1 hr labor to install. Works great, now I have 2 sets of each.
Shop around....

 

Thanks all for confirming my suspicions. Too bad the dealer and I are getting off on the wrong foot, they're all of four miles from me.

 

Its not all crap -- I had the pleasure of not being able to program a new key since I did not have the code for the immobilizer, and the one on file from Germany did not work (I went to the dealer and they faxed my title and other info and got a fax back from Porsche with what the code was supposed to be when it left the factory).

I ended up buying the new immobilizer and now with proper code in hand I was able to program it. I still have the old immobilizer in my garage in my "hall of shame" wall with some stripped bolts and other stuff that got screwed up with the car (like my airbag spiral spring from my audi).

Good luck!

-reiner

 

Any update?

 

There's a slim chance I might be able to track down one of the original keys/remotes. Holding my breath for that. Additionally, a connection of mine is seeing what he can get a new one for from his parts source.

Interestingly, a buddy of mine who has a '97 993 went to the same dealer I went to in order to get a second key/remote himself. This was a few years ago now. He was told that he needed to replace his clock as well since this controlled the codes for the immobilizer.

 

In their own words. Interestingly, I received an invoice yesterday (no charge at this point...) including this summary:

 

I really don't get this. The manual itself says to make sure to reprogram all remotes once the immobilizer is put into "learn" mode, to ensure that your other remotes are not "forgotten". If the keys are forgotten each time, I just can't reconcile this against the dealer's statement that the maximum number of keys has been exceeded. Even if there was a separate limit for "total number of keys ever programmed", they are claiming that number is 3, which I also don't get given that the system supports 4 at any one time.

It's just not adding up.

- Dave

 

Have you tried programming it yourself? Its a bit of a pita with getting the key in the correct position at the correct time, but its not _that_ hard.

I'll send you the scans of the manual if you want to give that a try.

-reiner